With critical personnel shortages at in the aviation industry, the Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA) scheduled a Business Aviation Day April 1 at Daytona Beach International Airport, to link local students and young professionals to careers in the industry – careers going beyond pilots and aviation maintenance technicians, to finance, flight dispatch, sales, airports, business aviation operations, management and airfield facilities management.
“There has never been a better time to get into aviation, but few people know about the opportunities,” said CFBAA Business Aviation Day Coordinator Jordan Scales. “Business aviation is a major industry in Florida, and, with aviation universities like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and manufacturers like Melbourne-based Embraer Executive Jets and Vero Beach-based Piper Aircraft it has a huge footprint in the area. The idea is to build relationships between students and industry professionals to help them network and build relationships, mentorships and internships.”
CFBAA teamed with local high schools with aviation programs, colleges and universities to bring students to explore the many disciplines that make great careers. It is also inviting young professionals to attend.
In Florida, the general aviation industry is responsible for nearly 95,000 jobs and more than $17 billion in annual economic output.
A combination, career fair, educational event and aircraft display, the CFBAA Business Aviation Day includes exhibitors and sponsors include Melbourne-based Satcom Direct and companies such as Unmanned Safety Institute, Sheltair, Speedbird, JetHQ, Embraer Executive Jets, Textron Aviation, Bombardier, JetEast, jetAVIVA, Jet Agency, SmartSky Networks, Charter Flight Group, Jet Genius Holdings among many others.
CFBAA will collect resumes from all attendees, providing them to local aviation employers which means solid career opportunities. In addition, an exhibit area introduces attendees to Central Florida aviation companies and the careers they offer.
The event is free to all students, educators & faculty members, but $25 for individuals, the event will be held at the Sheltair fixed-base operation (FBO) facility at the airport (563 Pearl Harbor Drive, Daytona Beach. Florida). It includes breakfast and lunch and discussions from the top people in the industry including National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) President Ed Bolen and Embraer Executive Jets CEO Michael Amalfitano. Also speaking is jetAviva CEO Emily Deaton and Deb Higgins, vice president of sales for Speedbird, two of the many women executives in the field. Speakers also include Former National Transportation Safety Board Chair Robert Sumwalt, who is now a professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Sheltair COO Todd Anderson, Ryan Waguespack, senior vice president of National Air Transportation Association. CFBAA President David Keys, a corporate aircraft pilot, will discuss opportunities for aviators while Business Aviation Career Coach Jenny Showalter will educate attendees on other career opportunities while providing tips to a successful career landing.
CFBAA has also organized a display of business aviation aircraft for attendees to explore.
Indicating the importance of Central Florida in business aviation is the fact NBAA holds its annual conference here every other year and is expected to break attendance records at the Orange County Convention Center in October.
“The key to success in business aviation is building relationships,” said Scales, who is also aircraft manager for Clay Lacy Aviation. “CFBAA’s Business Aviation Day provides that opportunity for local students to start building their own relationships. For those of us already in our careers, the Business Aviation Day provides us the opportunity to pay it forward.”
